Clutch Questions?

Should I just shift to 2nd as I am exiting the turn??

i say that's a question of personal preference more than anything else

I usually depress the clutch completely and leave it on 1st (instead of shifting to neutral). Should I change these bad habits of mine?

yes, then yes again. the throwout bearing will wear, but it's not an item that wears out quickly. plus, as a general rule of thumb, i don't keep the car in gear at a stop... just in case i slip...

What are throwout bearings?

the throwout bearing... is the bearing that presses against the clutch hub when you depress the clutch pedal. the reason it wears out when you press it down, is that it's under somewhat high stress/load and consists of metal-to-metal contact.

oh, and where are my manners... welcome!